72811 - Literature and Media (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at investigating some aspects characterizing the relationship between literature, cinema, television and new media, focusing on exemplary case studies. At the end of the course students: - understand how writing practices change in an intermedial context such as the contemporary one; - have the tools to analyze texts produced in the new literary scenario resulting from the interaction with digital technologies.

Course contents

Novels, publishing, transmediality: contemporary non fiction novels.

The course will focus on some aspects characterising the relationship between literature, cinema, television and new media in the construction of narratives that address transnational audiences and create imaginaries characteristic of the global age. In particular, a number of contemporary representations will be analysed as examples of the transition from transpositions that could be understood in the light of the theory of adaptations to the construction of narratives that arise from an imaginary produced by different media and are translated into transmedia productions through the integration of entertainment experiences on different multimedia platforms.

During the course, we will analyse several case studies belonging to the non-fiction novel genre. In different ways, these case studies allow us to reflect on how diverse media, and different media relations, give rise to a shared imaginary, which also takes shape from global bestsellers, born in the changed context of publishing in the Age of Amazon.

Finally, the course will ask how consumers, particularly fans, can appropriate this narrative content to expand it into fan fiction, videos, fan films, cosplay, and a range of other participatory practices that develop it in new directions. Both commercial and fan community expansion contribute to a new mode of storytelling that is increasingly difficult to describe through adaptation theory.

Readings/Bibliography

Truman Capote, A sangue freddo [In Cold Blood], 1965 (any edition);

Roberto Saviano, Gomorra. Viaggio nell'impero economico e nel sogno di dominio della camorra, 2006 (any edition);

Gomorra, directed by Matteo Garrone, 2008 (any edition);

Nicola Lagioia, La città dei vivi, 2020 (any edition).

Nicola Lagioia, La città dei vivi (podcast), 2022.

Critical essays:

Giuliana Benvenuti, a cura di, La letteratura oggi. Romanzo, editoria, transmedialità, Einaudi 2023. Particularly the chapter La letteratura nel sistema mediale contemporaneo.

All essays uploaded on the Virtuale platform and marked as mandatory readings.

Teaching methods

The lessons are, most of all, lectures held by the teacher. During the lessons, students will be encouraged to participate. We will use also some tools to support teaching, especially power-point. Movies and documentaries will be shown for the contextualization of readings scheduled. Finally, scholars will be invited for some specific issues and for the presentation of some texts and authors.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Assessment methods

The oral test consists in an oral interview which has the aim of evaluating the critical and methodological ability of the students. The students will be invited to discuss the tests on the course programme. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography in the course programme.

Those students who are able to demonstrate a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during the lessons, are able to use these critically and who master the field-specific language of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence.

Those students who demonstrate a mnemonic knowledge of the subject with a more superficial analytical ability and ability to synthesize, a correct command of the language but not always appropriate, will be given a ‘fair' mark.

A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability that is not always appropriate will be rewarded with a pass mark or just above a pass mark.

Students who demonstrate gaps in their knowledge of the subject matter, inappropriate language use, lack of familiarity with the literature in the programme bibliography will not be given a pass mark.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities: it is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

During the lectures audiovisual tools will be used to support the teaching. Scholars will also be invited to bring a significant contribution to increase the issues upon which the course focuses.

Office hours

See the website of Giuliana Benvenuti